Councilperson Jeanine Redlinger

Usually the renewal of licenses to sell tobacco and alcohol are routine approvals by city councils.

That was not the case in Riverside Monday night.

Casey’s General Store had renewal requests for selling tobacco and alcohol set for council approval.

The requests were on the consent agenda, designated for routine items that are approved without discussion.

First, Councilperson Jeanine Redlinger requested that the tobacco permit be pulled from the consent agenda. Councilperson Tom Sexton followed by asking that the alcohol permit be pulled for further discussion.

In the end, the council approved the tobacco permit on a 4-1 vote, with Redlinger dissenting.

The alcohol permit was tabled until the next meeting to give council members time to gather more information. The decision to table was 3-2 with Redlinger, Edgar McGuire and Lois Schneider supporting a delay in approval.

Redlinger led off the discussion on smoking.

“I believe we should do more to prevent tobacco deaths in Iowa and our community,” she said.

She cast the lone vote against approving the permit.

On the alcohol permit discussion, Sexton’s complaint was about the shot-size liquor bottles sold at the counter of convenience stores. He said with those small bottles, it was too easy for drivers to get in a car and mix a drink.

Sexton said the ditch in front of his property was littered with empty small liquor bottles.

McGuire, who owns a business selling liquor, said he would talk with officials of the state Alcohol Beverages Division for more information on the permits and options the city has in regulating the sale of alcohol.

“I think it’s a problem for the whole state, gas stations selling alcohol,” he said.

“We need to do some research and maybe make a change in the future,” Sexton said.

McGuire will report back to council at its meeting March 16.